The City Of Fargo

For Sunny Branick, librarianship wasn't on his radar until he started working at the Dr. James Carlson Library and learned about everything libraries do for their community.

Branick and his team synthesize their shared knowledge to create diverse services to meet the community’s needs.

"Library workers often serve as ad hoc social workers until they can connect patrons with those more qualified to navigate their unique circumstances– whether it be health, housing, or domestic abuse," says Branick.

Currently, Branick and his team are working closely with Growing Together and the Fargo Parks District to install a pollinator garden and an education garden to expand their programming capabilities and give outside presenters more space and opportunities to educate the public.

Hunter Hubrig has been a part of the Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) team for the past seven years. “I knew Fargo was welcoming and I relished the opportunity to work somewhere I could see my efforts help people,” says Hubrig.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Hubrig was tasked with ensuring the City is prepared for any emergency imaginable from large-scale fires to train derailments.

This past year has been unlike any of Hubrig’s previous with FCPH. Personal Protective Equipment fitting and other pandemic-centric activities have become a major aspect of Hubrig’s role. One of the greatest challenges the entire FCPH team has handled is the unique and unpredictable nature of COVID and the rollout of vaccines.

Hubrig has also worked diligently to reduce barriers and help people get vaccinated. Considerable effort has gone into community outreach to ensure those who are hard-toreach are still informed and able to access vaccines and other resources.

Jonathan Braski is a GIS Technician for The City of Fargo, helping map out the underground utilities in their spatial database and providing any mapping needs to employees or the general public.

Braski may not provide a service that has direct ties to the public (in person), but his efforts help the community run smoothly and effectively. For example, Braski maps out street utilities, helping ensure thousands of street lights and signals are maintained and tracked. He also creates floodplain maps which provide valuable data and models for flood preparation.

"I love the idea of being able to help anyone and everyone that is in our community, no matter who they may be," says Braski. "Team Fargo has been a welcoming, inclusive, and overall great place to work!"

As City Engineer, Brenda Derrig runs a department which serves residents a variety of ways. From flood protection to traffic solutions and rightof-way management, the Engineering Department plays an important role in many aspects. Derrig, who has been a member of the Engineering team since 1992, says it is important to not forget the impact the work has on residents.

“It’s all about the people,” says Derrig. She and her team take pride in tackling problems alongside residents while acting both honestly and respectfully. For example, Derrig’s team created a new infrastructure funding plan which reduced special assessment costs for residents.

She says one of the greatest challenges her team will continue to tackle is creating and maintaining infrastructure that will serve Fargo for decades to come, while accommodating continued regional growth.

The City of Fargo’s Recycling Coordinator Jen Pickett has been a champion of sustainability for Team Fargo for more than eight years.

According to Pickett, the participation rate in recycling for Fargo residents has gone from 65% to 90% since 2017. Before single-sort recycling, The City of Fargo used to collect 1,200 tons per year. Now the City collects more than 4,500 tons per year. That’s 9,000,000 pounds of recyclables removed from the landfill.

"I wish people knew plastic bags can be recycled at many grocery stores," says Pickett. "They often are turned into post-consumer products, and some of them are even turned into Trex composite lumber for decking products."

Ray Peterson joined Team Fargo all the way back in 1970 as a night operator at the wastewater plant. He has been a supervisor there for the past 25 years.

Peterson says technology has advanced significantly in his half-century of public service.

"When I started in 1970, the flow at the wastewater plant was only three million gallons per day; now sixteen million gallons per day is common," says Peterson. A new plant is under construction that will be able to handle fifty million gallons per day to help with regionalization and growth.

Kimberly Jirava joined Team Fargo in 2003, spending ten years as a Medical Lab Technician for Fargo Cass Public Health. In 2013, she joined the Water Treatment department. Today she is one of four chemists at the Water Treatment Plant who work diligently to provide safe, high-quality water to the region.

Jirava's typical week involves preparing equipment, collecting a wide variety of samples, and conducting state-mandated testing. "We take part in a lot of lab testing to find and eliminate contaminants and other unwanted compounds," says Jirava. "We all work together really well."

Dawn Stollenwerk has been with the Fargo Fire Department for more than a decade, making history as the first female firefighter in Fargo history.

As a Deputy Fire Marshal, she spends much of her time conducting fire investigations and engaging in public education about fire safety and prevention.

"I really enjoy knowing that what I’m doing helps people," says Stollenwerk. "It is very rewarding to know we are saving lives and livelihoods."

When Lacey Bunkelman explains why she loves her role as a police officer in Fargo, she speaks from the heart.

"Fargo is truly a diamond in the rough and the people I serve are part of the most rewarding things about my job," says Bunkelman.

Lacey Bunkelman has been with the Fargo PD for five years, and was formerly a member of the ND Air National Guard.

Her commitment to the Fargo community inspires her to be a better officer each time she clocks in. "The people that I serve are what keeps me going and is why I'm able to put the uniform on–day in and day out."

Officer Tyrell Fauske is a veteran patrolman of Fargo’s streets, with more than seven years of protecting and serving the community. This experience helps him make a positive impact on the community each time he dons the Fargo Police badge.

To Fauske, the most rewarding aspect of being a police officer is helping the community– especially those in difficult or dangerous situations. "I try to provide a resource that can help them solve their problem and start enjoying the things in life again," says Fauske.

"Seeing them later living successful lives and contributing to the community is the best part of my job."

The City of Fargo

225 4th St N

Fargo, ND 58102

701.241.1310

fargond.gov